Friday, 16 March 2012

Planting Up

What a difference a month makes. Exactly 4 weeks ago and we were in the midst of the coldest spell for at least 35 years, arguably the most severe since 1956, but today, wall to wall sunshine, the thermometre nudging 25 centigrade, wind flat calm, not a zepher - vrai printemps.

The spring weather has been perfect for taking time out to plant up the new garden area I mentioned here. I've finally arrived at a pretty much final planting list, or at least I think I have.

Last Autumn I fully intended to plant seeds of Onopordum acanthium, the Scots (or Cotton) thistle but forgot. Shame, I had visions of this stately specimen punctuating the border here and there, rising up to 2 metres plus but alas, this year it ain't to be. Of course that's not to say things aren't at least a bit thistley. Following a slug attack which chewed up my Cardoon seedlings, I picked up three young artichokes, Violet de Provence, a slightly smaller variety than the enormous monsters associated with Brittany and with finer, grey green foliage. Voila the replacement.

A visit to Pepiniere Lac du Joncs earlier this week also helped me to make a final decision. There it is in the photo below taken last June, hidden away in the countryside near Rouffignac and which in my imagination has a feeling close to being middle earth, though not inhabited by small, slightly hairy folk with a penchant for the Lonely mountain.

Sadly, almost 50% of the plant stock had been lost during the recent cold spell. Temperatures in some areas had dipped to -20C, so if you're a zone 8 borderline 7 plant sitting on the ground in a small pot, well you've just experienced a bit of zone 5 winter.

All was not lost however, above are three Euphorbia myrsinites, they came through the big freeze without a problem. In fact there were some unlikely candidates who also survived the chill, notably Pennisetum macrourum ( I brought three) of which I've read many conflicting reports as to exactly how hardy it is.

So the final plant list is as follows;

Aster frikartii 'Monch'

Cynara scolymus 'Violet de Provence'

Echinacea pallida

Echinops ritro

Eryngium planum

Eryngium planum 'Jade Frost'

Euphorbia myrsinites

Gaura lindheimeri

Nassella (stipa) tenuifolia

Nepeta x faassenii 'Six Hills Giant'

Panicum virgatum 'Northwind'

Pennisetum macrourum

Pennisetum orientale 'Karley Rose'

Perovskia abrotanoides

Salvia nemorosa

Sedum telephium 'Matrona'

Stipa gigantea

I'm sure there'll be one or two groundcover additions, perhaps thyme or a sedum of some sort, but that's the list for now, possibly too long, possibly not long enough, time will tell.

Several of my shrubs look like they are dead but I have cut them all back and now I hope. Your garden will look beautiful when you have finished. The last few days have been amazing but it will cool down again next week! Diane

Hi Rob, your new bed looks divine already! I can see the vision using the plants you listed and am just as excited, maybe not quite, as you are about how it will all play out together. I just saw artichokes at the market today and must now go right back and get a few. As always, you inspire me!

Sounds like a good list. I look forward to seeing how you arrange them. Judging from some of the photos, you got large, well established plants, so may have a garden by this summer. Looking forward to it.

James I think it's a pretty good list. The totally unplanned was the Panicum, but I'll probably end up liking it the most. As to arrangement - I've planted blocks of some and woven others through in drifts. The least sizeable plants right now are the s. gigantea, I've put one in the middle and two others elsewhere. In the plant list I forgot to mention the 'glue' I used that being V. bonariensis which I've woven through everywhere.

What a good stretch of ground to let loose those great silvery blue plant choices. I keep reading March has been the warmest on record, so it's almost a relief to read there's been a cold spell somewhere, but I am sorry to hear of plant losses. Ouch!

Luv the Tolkien reference!! We had a colder than normal late winter here with snow as recent as last week. Quite abnormal. You've made some wonderful selections. It will be fun to follow how your new garden takes shape. Cheers, Jenni

The E. pallida was an afterthought. I'd grown some from seed last year and just left them in small pots not paying them an iota of attention. I didn't have anywhere to put them at that time but now they're in the garden and hopefully with roots in the ground should do their thing.

Your gardens are gorgeously set up! We have had a VERY WARM start to late winter and spring here in New England and although I'm out cleaning up and planning, I'm trying NOT to awake the gardens too soon...I am your newest follower and plan on visiting often, I am anxious to see your gardens in their full splendor!Have a wonderful week,Donna